How to help a loved one look past psychosis?

Mental disorders do that to the mind what a fracture does to a bone. People suffering from an illness that affects the mind go through an inner struggle every single day. Furthermore, the people who love them struggle too because they have to watch them suffer.

Psychosis is one such disorder that makes a huge impact on the person suffering from it as well as the people close to them.

Nonetheless, the most important thing to remember for people suffering from psychosis as well as for their loved ones is that it is a disorder that is treatable. Despite being a long bumpy road, recovery exists in the case of psychosis. The road to recovery begins with Early Psychosis Intervention programs that functional actively throughout the ‘Great White North.’

For example, some of the resources in the arsenal of people living in British Columbia are ‘BC Mental Health and Substance Use Services,’ ‘British Columbia Schizophrenia Society,’ ‘Canadian Mental Health Association, British Columbia,’ and ‘Crisis Line Association of BC.’

Moreover, as with every problem in life, a helping hand is never a bad thing to have. It’s only a little that we can do on our own – together we can do so much!

The top three things to do

On that note, here are three basic ways in which you can help someone suffering from psychosis.

Never patronize them: If you keep feeling sorry for your friend who has been diagnosed with psychosis, that is the thinking you’re promoting in them. Nothing feels worse than being pitied when a person undergoes a mental disorder. Therefore, instead of patronizing a person suffering from psychosis, encourage them!

Help them keep a check on their physical health: Mental disorders take as much of a toll on the body as they take on the mind. In a state of helplessness, people often forget taking care of themselves. Furthermore, victims of an illness that endorses delusional thinking as one of its symptoms, adopting a notion that their health doesn’t matter is a possibility. Instead of giving them chocolates with ‘get well soon’ notes, cook a healthy meal for them or make them a fruit salad.

Understand their illness: If a member of your household is a patient suffering from psychosis, make it certain that you thoroughly educate yourself about what the disease is. Talk to the doctor, read about it online, seek people who have recovered and do everything in your power than you can.

The most important thing to remember for people suffering from psychosis as well as for their loved ones is that it is a disorder that is treatable. Despite being a long bumpy road, recovery exists in the case of psychosis.

Moreover, if early psychosis intervention programs haven’t been your initial response to psychosis, it is time to change that.